This 944 S2 Cabriolet would remain with its first owner in Virginia for nine years, until it was sold to the second owner in 1999 with 54,868 miles recorded, according to the clean CARFAX report on file. The second owner kept the car in North Carolina until 2012, until it was purchased by the third owner at 74,481 miles, at which point it resided back in Virginia. After some brief subsequent ownerships the 944 S2 made its way to Texas in 2017, and today displays just over 81,000 miles from new.
Most recently, this 944 S2 Cabriolet has been a successful participant at the Tejas Turismo, a three-day vintage car rally in the Texas Hill Country that celebrates classic cars up to the year 1990. Recent service work within the last two years has included a major timing belt service, including the water pump, new Koni shocks, and struts, along with various other maintenance items, including new tires in 2021. A well-preserved example throughout, it is accompanied by a binder containing comprehensive service documentation dating back to 1991, as well as a copy of the original window sticker, original owner’s manuals, warranty, and maintenance books, in addition to its jack and space saver spare tire. A paint meter inspection revealed no evidence of prior paintwork, a clear indicator that this has been a cherished and carefully preserved example. It is now ready for a new caretaker to experience the thrill of top-down, front-engine Porsche magic.
The Porsche 944 has long been regarded as an affordable vintage entry point for Porsche ownership, and represents the evolution of Porsche’s front-engined offerings from the 924 & 928 series of cars. By the late 1980s the formula had been refined, and it became apparent that a market existed for a drop-top version, allowing for the introduction of the 944 S2 Cabriolet, which boasted a naturally aspirated 3.0 liter version of the 944 S’s robust four-cylinder engine, in addition to the 944’s nearly perfect weight distribution. Sold in limited numbers, the 944 S2 was refined, luxurious, and boasted impressive performance relative to its peers.
This 944 S2 Cabriolet was sold new by Schneider and Nelson Porsche of West Long Branch, New Jersey, in late 1990, specified in “Triple Black” with Black paint, over a Black partial leather combination interior, and a black soft top. Costly when new, a copy of the original window sticker shows that the car’s MSRP was nearly $50,000 in 1990. For comparison, a 911 would have been only $8,500 more; a compelling argument that a 944 S2 offers superb value in today’s market. Features of this car include automatic climate control, central locking, stereo radio, 2+2 seating with folding rear seats, power windows, seats, and mirrors. Importantly, it was fitted with the desirable five-speed manual transmission.